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tipedegrass should be mowed when the grass reaches two and a half inches high .
To help achieve the look of a well-kept lawn , it is best to ensure lawnmower blades are always sharp .
“ A good rule of thumb would be to sharpen if you notice the grass is not cleanly cut or is uneven ,” he said . “ Another good frame of reference is to sharpen your mower after every 20 to 25 hours of use .” Davis suggests avoiding bagging grass clippings . “ Unless the grass is too thick when cut , it ’ s better for the lawn if you leave the clippings on the lawn because they will add nutrients back to the lawn ,” he said .
Decorative , ornamental grasses are a great way to add texture , variety and color to a yard year-round . They grow at various heights and are usually low maintenance .
Versatile maiden grasses , which grow about four to five feet in height and produce beautiful blower spikes in late summer that last all fall and winter , are among the most common decorative ornamental grasses , Davis noted .
Hardy pampas grasses , which can grow anywhere from three to 10 feet , are also popular and are great for adding privacy to a spot on the lawn
Muhly grass , which reaches about three feet in height , also is a favorite . It is known for its pink to purple inflorescences which float above the body of the plant in an airy display almost resembling smoke , he said .
Ornamental grasses should be cut back each year in February or March to clean last year ’ s growth off , so it can flush out with fresh foliage in the spring .
“ Some people choose to burn theirs back which is okay , but just make sure the wind isn ’ t blowing and you have a water hose close by and there ’ s nothing close that could catch fire ,” he added .
Fertilizers are a good way to help the lawn stay healthy by promoting new leaf and root growth .
“ Your soil supplies some of the nutrients that turf grass needs but most soils are not able to provide all of them during the entire growing season ,” he said . “ A healthy and actively growing lawn uses a great deal of energy .”
It is best to use a slow-release fertilizer on the lawn rather than a sudden blast of fertilizer at one time .
How often the lawn is fertilized depends on the type of fertilizer and type of grass , he said .
“ Some lawns require high fertilization such as bermudagrass while others like centipede do not like a lot of fertilizer so knowing what type of grass you have is a must before fertilizing ,” he said .
The best time of day to apply fertilizer is in the evening when the temperatures are starting to cool down and when the grass is dry , so the fertilizer does not stick to the grass blades . A lot of people like to apply fertilizer just before a light rain .
“ If there is a chance for more than an inch or two of rain for the day , then it may be better to wait until a couple of days later to apply the fertilizer because too
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“ Don ’ t break out the lawn mower at the first sign of green grass .”
Al Davis , owner of Al ’ s Garden & Gift
Why does my lawn have brown spots ?
Are round dark brown patches popping up and making your backyard unattractive ?
“ Brown spots in your lawn can be caused by many factors from pet urine to grubs to fungus ,” said Al Davis , owner of Al ’ s Garden and Gifts .
Brown spots caused by fungal problems usually show up as irregular patches , he noted . If the disease has been active for a while , the inside of the patch may recover , leaving a ring of dead grass around it .
Extremely rainy or humid weather can encourage fungal outbreaks , as can lack of sunlight and poor air circulation . Davis said spraying or applying a fungicide can help cure this problem . Grubs can also be the culprits damaging the grass by eating the roots , which leads to small brown patches that eventually widen in a relatively uniform way . Patches caused by grubs will feel sponge-like and roll up when raked because of the root damage .
Applying a granular grub control can normally take care of the pests , he said .
One of the most common causes of brown spots in the lawn , however , can be traced back to the family pet .
“ Dog urine burns , caused by the high amount of nitrogen in the urine , are recognizable by their brown centers and dark green outer rings ,” he said .
Unfortunately , he said , there ’ s really no way to stop this from happening if you have dogs .
8 • MERIDIAN HOME & STYLE